Trojans, Barkley do what is necessary against Cougars

LOS ANGELES – He handled the situation with an eloquent touch and an admirable cool.

Which is better than his coach had done.

Ending the most inexplicably awkward stretch in Pete Carroll's tenure at USC, Matt Barkley performed more like a quarterback and less like a freshman Saturday in an otherwise indifferent football game.

He passed early (the Trojans' first offensive play), often (7 of 10 plays during one first-quarter sequence) and accurately (7 of 9 to open the game) as USC beat Washington State 27-6.

Most notable of all, Barkley also passed downfield, a USC tradition glaringly absent from the attack to date, especially on the road the past two games, one of which ended with a loss to a 19-point underdog.

Back at the Coliseum, the Trojans were knocked down again Saturday. But Barkley was able to celebrate from his fanny this time, punctuating the team's longest pass play of the season – 57 yards – by pointing skyward while flattened.

And he did all this with a shoulder sore enough that his status for this game was uncertain just a few days ago.

So now the Trojans and the most extreme of their fans can breathe again, confident in the truth the Earth will continue turning and Traveler hasn't been replaced by a broken-legged goat.

Carroll also can resume being wise and successful as opposed to mocked and second-guessed.

After Barkley injured his shoulder against Ohio State, Carroll dealt clumsily with his quarterbacks. His treatment of backup Aaron Corp was so blatantly bizarre it was questioned even in this space, where the bizarre typically is celebrated.

Carroll never publicly named Corp the starter in advance of USC's jarring defeat at Washington. Afterward, he did publicly mention how poorly Corp had played. Repeatedly.

This time, Carroll named the still-recovering Barkley the starter mid-week, seemingly stabilizing the situation and his program.

The Trojans were able to recover more of their former selves thanks to their Saturday opponent, the overmatched Cougars providing a cushy spot to land following the harshness of Seattle.

The victory wasn't dazzling (USC twice failed to score on drives that penetrated WSU's 5-yard line), but it was wildly necessary (particularly with four of the Trojans' next five games coming away from home).

Likewise, Barkley wasn't dominating, but he was in control, finishing 13 of 22 for 247 yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers.

On its opening possession, USC attempted only one short pass, Barkley-to-Damian Williams traveling just four yards in the air. The single attempt, however, was all that was needed as Joe McKnight's running did the rest.

On USC's next series, on the first play, no less, Barkley suddenly launched 30 yards downfield, missing David Ausberry but proving – ailing shoulder and all – that going deep didn't temporarily leave this program the moment Mark Sanchez did.

That second series eventually ended in a punt, but a point had been made even if points had not. For the first time in too long, the Trojans had shown an interest in exploring the playbook beyond the foreword.

Remember how USC hadn't had a touchdown pass to a wide receiver in its first three games? Barkley hit Brice Butler for a 29-yard score and Williams for that 57-yarder Saturday – in the span of nine seconds.

The first-quarter touchdowns were separated only by an onside kick so unexpected that Trojans kicker Jacob Harfman recovered the thing himself.

The pass to Butler covered all 29 yards in the air, the sophomore split end making the catch at the goal line.

Then, on his next play from scrimmage, Barkley displayed deft timing and precision with his pass over the middle into Williams' waiting hands.

Even more impressive, Barkley executed the throw one blink before being crunched by Washington State defensive ends Travis Long and Jesse Feagin. That's 505 yards of Cougar.

On his backside near midfield, hearing the home crowd rise with approval, Barkley lifted his arm in triumph to mark the occasion.

It wasn't the biggest step this program has taken under Carroll, but it was another important one. It was more growth for a quarterback with so much potential to fulfill.

A stride back toward the future, it was, and back toward the normal, as well.

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